Reduced E-Rate Funds Mean Changing Plans At Schools

from "'E-Rate' Cuts Force Schools To Alter Plans" by Andrew Trotter

August 1st, 1998

Education Week, June 24, 1998, p. 1

A reduced E-rate money pool and the decision to pay for more telecom and Internet services than building wiring have forced many schools and districts to reassess their technology plans and scramble to plug the funding gaps.

For example, districts in Kentucky face problems since they requested mostly wiring discounts and already went through great lengths to secure funding for the nondiscounted portions. Moreover, existing investments in computers and training will be useless without the complementary building wiring funds.

Other districts face the prospect of having piecemeal and inconsistent wiring in their districts since funding will go to the neediest schools first. Plus, districts may have to find money for portions originally believed to be covered by E-rate fundsundermining months if not years of technology program planning.